Stress breaker



Oct. 16, 1951 s NOYES 2,571,931

STRESS BREAKER Filed April 15, 1948 IN VEN TOR. 572m 4-. N0 yzs.

"ofthe tooth 9 and II, respectivelyv Patented Oct. 16, 1951 2,571,931 STRESS BREAKER 7 :Stanley E. Noyes, Glendale, Calif.

Application April 15, 1948, Serial-N0. 21,297 Q 1 (01. 32-5) v .13 Claims.

This invention relates to a shock'absorber positioned between an artificial tooth and an abutment toothor natural tooth and the novel method of producing and assembling the same.

When artificial teeth in the form of partial 'bridges and the like are directly attached or clasped to natural abutment teeth soreness is apt to develop around the abutment teeth. Furthermore, due to the rigidity of the-clasp or other attachment stresses and strains are imposed uponv the abutment tooth which may result in this tooth becoming loose. The resulting looseness may even proceed to a point where itbecomes necessary to remove the abutment tooth.

I have discovered anovel means of making a stress relieving device which may be interposed between the abutment tooth and-the artificial tooth which results in lowering the stress and strain normall imposed on "thezabutment tooth -to a point where the soreness, described above, is

greatly relieved or eliminated and the danger of loosening the abutment tooth by the strain set up by the ordinary rigidly afiixed' artificial tooth is greatly lessened.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a full set of teeth I in which a partial bridge 2 is inserted and held in place by mechanisms attached to the abutment teeth 3, 4 and 5, which will be more fully described later on in the specification.

Figure 2 represents the method by which the shank or member to which the male member of the shock breaker is attached to the artificial tooth. In this figure 9 represents the chewing surface of an artificial tooth. Numeral H represents the lower side of the tooth.

In this figure the opening l3 ismade in the artificial tooth by any suitable means'suoh as cutting, or boring and in the event the'tooth is constructed of thermoplastic resin this opening can be made by means of a heated piece of metal.

'Into the opening l3 there is inserted the member 8 to which there will be attached the male member of the shock breaker which will be described later on. This member 8 is attached to the artificial tooth by means of the screw M; This tooth moves about the screw I 4 andit' will be noted that member 8 lies against the surface I2 of opening I3 and that there is considerable clearance between the member 8 and the surface 10 of opening l3.

Y The lower view of Figure 2 shows an end view of the opening 13 into which fits the member'8, the screw hole I 4 and the upper and lower ends Figure 3 represents another method ofinsertring and securing the member 8 to the artificial tooth. In this figure themember 8 has bee inserted into the artificial tooth at a right angle to member 8 of Figure 2. In Figure 3 the flat or widest surface of member 8 is parallel to the surface '9, whereas, .in Figure 2 the fiat or widest surface of member 8 is at right angles to the surface9. In Figure 3 it will be noted that the screw hole for attaching member 8 to the artificial tooth is made from the surface 9. After member 8 has been secured in place by. the screw the latter is covered over with plastic and therefore is-not visible. Where thermoplasticmaterial has been employed to make the artificial tooth n0 diflicult is encountered in this operation since the screw top is merely covered by heating a portion of thermo plastic resin positioned on the screw top.

,1 It will be noted in Figure 3 that the member 8 lies against the lower wall l2 of the opening l3 and that there is a space between the member B'and the upper wall ll] of the opening l3.

- .The lower view of Figure 3 shows the upper and lower surface of the artificial tooth with the opening l3 for member 8 and the opening M for the screw to secure the member 8.

Figure 4 represents the means or method of attaching the member 8 to the artificial tooth in the opening l3. It will be noted that member 8 is provided with a protrusion l6. As member 8 is inserted into opening l3 this protrusion forces the lower surface of the member against the wall 12 of the opening 13 before the forward 'shaped in such a manner that as it (member 8) is introduced into the opening I 3 the walls of 'member 8 will come in contact with the walls It! and [2 of opening 13 before the forward end of 8 comes in contact with wall I] of the opening 13.

Another modification consists in constructing member 8 with a lower surface parallel to wall 12 of openin l3, and with an upper wall sloping downwardly towards the screw M in such a manner that when member 8 is inserted into opening l3 the lower surface of member 8 contacts th lwa11 12 of opening I3 before the forward end of member 8 contacts the bottom I! of opening l3. Another modification of this form is to cut the opening 53 in the artificial tooth in the form of a wedge with the two walls of this opening l8 and I2 converging towards its bottom wall 11. In this modification the-member 8 is also constructed in the form of a wedge with its walls [2 and 29 (see Figure 4) converging towards the screw end M. The size of this wedge is such that when it is inserted in th wedge shaped opening; l3 the wa ls [.2 and 29 of the member 8 contact the walls of the opening [3 before the forward end of member 8 contacts the bottom wall 11 of this opening. At this. point the screw hole M is located, after which the wedge shaped member 8 is withdrawn and its upper siaeza ground off or cut away so that when it is reinserted in opening l3 and secured bya screw been described for securing member 8* to the artificial tooth it will be noted that in the case ofthe method described in conjunction with Figure 4 the protrusion ["6 on member 8 forces the lower side of this member against wall 12 of hole l3 before the forward end of member 8 contacts wall I! of the: opening l3. The sharp points on the forward end of member 8 tend to hold this member in place against the wall l2.

These points force their way into the forward wall I! of opening [3 as member 8 is introduced into this opening.

When member 8, has been introduced into opening l3 and the'lower side of8 is vfirmly against the wan l2 together with the sharp forward points of member 8. extending into the material of wall [3 the. screw is inserted in hole l4v of member 8 sec ring this member to the tooth.

This screw is then removed, member 8 is withdrawn from opening l3 and the points on the forward. end of member: .8 and protrusion I8 are 'removedgas shown in the lower view of Figure 4.

The points on the forward. end of member 8 and the protrusion I6 may be removed from member 8 either by grinding or cutting. After removal of these points and; protrusion |6,.mem-

her 8 is thenrep'laced in opening l3. and secured to the artificial tooth by means ofscrew l4.

Where the opening in the artificial tooth is wedge shaped and member 8 is'also in the form ofa wedge. as previously described, the following te'chnioue is e ployed in fixing member 8 to the artificial tooth. The wed e shaped member 8 is introduced or forced into the wedge, shaped opening 1.3. At this point. in the procedure the upper and lower walls of member 8' are in contact with walls l8 and [2'' of onening l8 (see Figures 2 and 4). The forward end of wedge shaped member 8, however, is not" in contact ,with the forward wall or bottom of opening, (3.

While member 8 is inv the position just. previously described the screw it is introduced securing member 8 rigidly to the artificial tooth.

The screw I4 is then removed and member 8 end H; ofv the-opening l3 and, itsupper wall to.

4 Member 8 will then appear in the form shown on the lower view of Figure 4.

In the case of the third modification where the opening I3 is rectangular in form and the lower side of member 8 is parallel to wall l2 of opening I3 and the upper side of member 8 slopes downward toward the screw hole opening M the following method is employed to secure member 8 to. the artificial tooth. Member 8 is forced into the opening l3 until the upper and lower walls of 8' are in contact with walls l0 and t2 of opening [3. At this point in the procedure the forward end of 8 is short of contact with wall H- (see Figure 4). The screw is then inserted in hole I4. The place for the screw hole then becomes" a; determined point or place.

The. screw hole I4 is then removed, member 8 is taken from the opening l3 and the upper side of member 8 is ground off so that when this member is re-inserted in opening 13 and secured inserting a screw in opening. Id there will be a substantial clearance or distance between the upperslde-of member: 8 and. the wall ill-of opening l3 (Figures 2 m4).

As has been pointed out; above; the end 26 supports the male fitting shown in Figure '6 or as an alternative a clasp which fits over the anchor tooth (see Figures 1;. 3,. 4-,. or 5). When a clasp is employed instead of the male member shown in Figure 6 a vertical member is soldered or secured to the end 26 of member 8' (Figure 4),

and the clasp is then soldered orsecured' to this vertical member.

Figure 5 represents a female member to receive the male member shown in Figure 6. The female member is fitted into a recess or chamber r -nade'into the crowned anchor tooth. (See Fi ure '2, numeral 3 or Figure l, numerals 3 or 5.) This female member shown in Figure 5 is cylin dric'alin form: provided with the two seams or members I'B toF secure it to: the: recess or chamber of the crowned anchor tooth.

The male member shown in Figure 6 is constructed of three parts, namely, parts and 2-3 placed on the outside of the flat member 22; all three members, 2|, 22, and 23, being held together by a pin or rivet; 21 placed through these three parts, as shown in Figure 6; This rivet permits the'integral parts'of the male member 20 (Figure 6) to spread slightly thus prov-idingi a-binding' effect when this male member is inserted into the female filling I8 of Figure 5.

Figure 7' shows one form of the completed assemblycomprising the anchor tooth 3 with its crown 24 and provided with the female member I8; the artificial tooth with its opening l3 and containing:' member 8 secured thereto by a. screw msertedJ-in'opening l4 in such a manner that the lower'edge of member 8 is incontact with wall I? of opening [3; the forward end of member 8 is outzof contact with wall I1 of opening I 3, and theupper edge-of member 8 isspaced from-wall ill ofopening l3 and a screw is secured in opening. [-4.

In the practice of the invention the following procedure is employed. First the anchor tooth 3. (Figure 7) is crowned; recessed and. provided with the female member? l8. Member 8 isnext inserted into the artificial tooth, as has been previously; described in conjunction with Figures 2, 3, and 4. The male member 20 (Figure 6) is then inserted into the female member 18 (Figure. '1')... The: artificial tooth is then placed in its normal position. in themouth; contiguous to he anchor tOdthL-(v; and. the end 26: of: member 8 is cut off to a proper length so that when the end 26 is butted against male member 20 and normal distance exists between the artificial tooth 9 and the anchor tooth 3. With the artificial tooth resting in a normal position in the patients mouth and with member 8 butting against the male member 20, member 8 is securely afiixed to male member 20 by means of wax.

The artificial tooth 9 with member 8 affixed to male member 20 by means of wax is then removed from the patients mouth and member 8 is soldered to male member 20.

Where clasps are employed instead of the male and female members the procedure is as follows. The clasp is placed around the anchor tooth 3, which in this case does not require a crown. The artificial tooth is placed in the patients mouth contiguous to the anchor tooth in the normal position and the vertical bar attached to member 8 which is butted against the clasp (around the anchor tooth) is securelywaxed thereto. The artificial tooth with member 8 affixed thereto and the latter securely waxed to the clasp are removed from the patients mouth. The clasp is soldered to the vertical member attached to member 8 and any excess of the vertical member above the clasp is cut off. The clasp with the attached artificial tooth is now ready for a permanent position in the mouth.

In Figure 1 anchor teeth 3 and 5 are fitted with female structures, as is shown in Figures 5 and 6. Furthermore, in this figure artificial teeth 28 and 29 are fitted with the male member 20, shown in Figure 6, and attached to the artificial teeth 28 and 29 by means of a member 8 and a screw inserted in hole I4, as shown in the Figures 2, 3, 4, and '7.

Furthermore, anchor tooth 4 in Figure 2 is fitted with a clasp attached to artificial tooth 30 by means of a member 8 fitted with a vertical bar, as described above. Therefore, it will be seen that Figure 7 represents an anchor tooth 3 to which there is attached through the stress breaker a single artificial tooth 9 to which any number of other artificial teeth may be attached as in the case of Figure 1.

I claim:

1. An artificial tooth having an opening in the side wall thereof intermediate the crown and base of said tooth, a link member secured in said opening by meansof a pin in such manner that the lower side of said link lies against the lower wall of said opening and the upper side and end of said link adjacent said pin are spaced from the upper and end walls of said opening, and a fastening member secured to the free end of said link member, said link member being movable about said pin in said side wall opening of the artificial tooth.

2. An artificial tooth having an opening in the side wall thereof intermediate the crown and base of said tooth, the upper and lower walls of said opening being substantially parallel to the top of the said artificial tooth crown, a link member secured in said opening by means of a pin passing at right angles to the opening in said tooth through one of the walls of said opening and through said link, said link member being secured in said opening by said pin in such manner that the lower side of said link lies against the lower wall of said opening and the upper side and end of said link adjacent said pin are spaced from the upper and end walls of said opening, and a fastening member secured to the free end of said link member, said link member being movable about said pin in said side wall opening of the artificial tooth.

3. An artificial tooth having an opening in the side wall thereof intermediate the crown and base of said tooth, the upper and lower walls of said opening being substantially parallel to the top of said artificial tooth crown, a link member secured in said opening by means of a pin passing at right angles to said opening and the principal axis of said tooth through one of the walls of said opening and through said link, said link member being secured in said opening by said pin in such manner that the lower side of said link lies against the lower wall of said opening and the upper side and end of said link adjacent said pin are spaced from the upper and end walls REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 542,138 Bray July 2, 1895 1,614,325 Stoeffler Jan. 11, 1927 1,953,715 Joife Apr. 3, 1934 

